April Showers Bring XP SP3 Flowers

Staging, Staging - SP3 Prepares to Roll Out

Windows news source Neowin.net reports that Microsoft's using the following schedule to roll out Windows XP SP3:

As of April 14 (Tax Day Eve), Microsoft began providing official support for Windows XP SP3.

On April 21 (next Monday), SP3 will be released to OEMs, Volume License, Connnect, MSDN, and TechNet subscribers.

On April 29, SP3 will be available to everyone else via Windows Update, Microsoft Update, or the Microsoft Download Center.

Prefer to wait until Redmond forces you to get SP3? Automatic Updates via Windows Update/MS Update are scheduled to start June 10.

Previewing What's New in SP3

Some commenters on the original Neowin.net article are surprised to hear that Service Pack 3 doesn't contain much in the way of brand-new features. If you've been reading our coverage of SP3, though, you already know what to expect in the way of features and download sizes. Once Windows XP SP3 becomes available, we'll provide you with the links to downloads and installation troubleshooting you need.